NTSA Issues Advisory to Motorists Over Motor Vehicle Transfer Process on eCitizen

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has issued an advisory to motorists on the proper procedure for transferring motor vehicle ownership through the eCitizen platform.

In a notice dated Monday, September 8, NTSA cautioned buyers and sellers against relying on unofficial channels, emphasizing that the process is now fully digitized and streamlined on the eCitizen platform to enhance efficiency and curb fraud.

Most importantly, before committing to buy a motor vehicle,  buyers were advised to conduct a search through serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke and obtain a copy of the vehicle records.

“A motor vehicle copy of records provides critical information to help the interested party make an informed purchase and avoid costly mistakes,” NTSA stated.

Transfer of Vehicle Ownership on eCitizen

The authority reiterated that the motor vehicle transfer of ownership application is fully digital and paperless. Both sellers and buyers are required to log in to serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke.

The seller initiates the transfer online, and the buyer accepts the transfer online. This eliminates the need for multiple visits to NTSA offices or filling out paperwork.

"Internal verification and approval steps have been reduced significantly and streamlined from numerous manual stages to a simplified digital workflow," read the notice in part.

"The average time to complete a transfer online application has been cut down to just a few minutes."

For transparency, each application generates a unique Application ID that allows both the buyer and seller to track the progress of the transfer in real time.

NTSA also assured motorists that security and fraud prevention have been strengthened through digital audit trails and system-logged approvals, ensuring accountability at every stage of the process.

Once the transfer is approved, NTSA processes the certificate of ownership (logbook) within three working days.

After this period, the new vehicle owner should proceed to collect the logbook from the collection center chosen during the application.

At the point of collection, the new owner must present the previous logbook and an original identification document to complete the process.

In cases where an application is rejected, NTSA notifies the seller instantly via SMS, stating the reasons for the rejection. Rejected applications can be corrected and resubmitted at no additional cost.

Further, NTSA warned motorists against engaging in bribery or using unofficial channels to influence or fast-track the ownership transfer process.

“Never pay a bribe to receive NTSA services. If contacted by any persons or through an unofficial channel, advising that a transfer of ownership application can be fast-tracked or influenced in any way, please report the matter to the nearest NTSA office or the EACC for further action,” the advisory read.